This invention relates to handles for package arrangements for a number of cans, particularly those containing foodstuffs or beverages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a paperboard package for a plurality of cans, which package provides means for retaining said cans at or near their tops in a predetermined arrangement and side wall means which in use extends closely around the outside of the arrangement of cans, one portion of said side wall means being constituted by a multiple thickness of paperboard and one or more handle apertures being provided in said ulti thickness portion.

In a preferred embodiment said package comprises two pieces, the first providing said retaining means and the second providing said side wall means, said two pieces in use being secured together. Preferably said second piece also includes a top wall which is adhesively secured in use to the first piece. In one embodiment the first piece engages and retains the top rims of the cans. Preferably the side wall means comprises a number of side wall sections which are secured together to form said side wall means which is continuous around the outside of said arrangement.

Preferably the package, in use, forms a rectangular arrangement of cans. Four side wall sections may be provided, one for each side of the rectangular arrangement. Preferably each side wall is hingedly connected to the top wall which in this preferred case is generally rectangular.

In one embodiment, one side wall has a reinforcing portion hingedly attached, which portion, in use, is folded under said one side wall to effect

said multi thickness portion.

According to a further preferred feature one handle aperture is provided in the double thickness of the side wall, which aperture is in the form of a slot. Ideally the slot is located substantially centrally of said one side wall.

Preferably said one side wall has a generally rectangular panel and an extension at each lengthwise end for attachment to other side panels. It is a preferred feature that creases are formed in said one side wall between the lengthwise ends of the 'slot and the four corners of the rectangular panel of said one side wall.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank or blanks for producing the above packages.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first blank for forming part of the package of the present invention,

Figure 2 shows a pair of second blanks for forming another part of the package of the present invention, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the package of the present invention secured to a plurality of cans, and

Figure 4 shows the package shown in figure 3 being carried. The package 10 shown is for a multipack of twelve cans 11 and is formed from a blank 12 and a pair of blanks 13. The basic principle of securing the cans is known from our earlier British Patent Applications nos. 9201647.6 and 9219209.5. Without

going into excessive detail each can 11 is gripped below its top rim between a pair of arcuate cuts 14 in the blank 13, thus forming in this case a rectangular array of cans in a 4 X 3 array held by the pair of 2 X 3 blanks 13 . The location of the pairs of cuts and the provision of fold lines 15 define sub-panels 15a which in use angle down and engage below the top rims of the cans and which ensure that the cans are arranged in touching or closely adjacent relationship to each other.

The other blank 12 has a top wall 16 which is generally rectangular corresponding to the array of cans 11. Side walls 17, 18, 19, 20 are hingedly connected to the top wall 16. The side walls 17, 19 incorporate arcuate slits 21 for receiving the rims of the adjacent cans 11. The side walls 17, 19 also incorporate sub panels 22 which in use are angled to correspond with the bevelled portion of the cans just below the can rims. The top wall 16 is adhesively secured to the areas of the blanks 13 between the cuts of each pair of cuts after the blanks 13 have been secured to all the cans of the array.

The other side walls 18, 20 have extensions 23 at each end such that when the side walls are folded down, the extensions can extend around the corner cans so as to be overlapped by the side walls 17, 19 and secured thereto by adhesive. The resulting package is rigid and secure.

With the present arrangement, however, the side wall 18 has a reinforcing panel 24 hingedly attached thereto along a fold line 25 substantially parallel to that between the side wall 18 and the top wall 16. Both the side wall 18 and the reinforcing panel 24 have slot-shaped handle apertures 26 which correspond in position when the panel 24 is folded so

as to lie against side wall 18. Crease lines 27 are also provided in panel 24 and side wall 18 extending from the ends of the slots 26 to the corners of the panel 24 and side wall 18.

In use the reinforcing panel 24 is folded under the side wall 18 prior to the side wall 18 being folded down alongside the cans. When this is done the reinforcing panel is securely located between the cans and the side wall 18 with the apertures 26 in alignment with each other. The extensions 23 can then be secured in the normal way to side walls 17, 19.

It has been found that this handle arrangement is strong enough for extended periods of carrying and does not impair the strength and rigidity of the package. Indeed the provision of the handle in the side wall, when the package is being carried, tends to tighten the overall grip of the cans by the side wall means thereby increasing the rigidity of the arrangement. The creases 27 are optional, but it has been found that they improve the resistance of the handle area to ripping.

It will be appreciated that reinforcing panel 24 could be adhesively secured to the side wall 18 and could be a separate piece secured to the side wall 18. The hinge connection 25 could be at another location with suitable modification to the provision of the securing extensions 23. Further reinforcing panels could also be provided to create a three or more ply portion around the handle. Also of course similar handle arrangements could be provided on other side walls as well.

It will further be appreciated that other can arrays are also suitable, not just rectangular. Also any size array can be packaged subject of course to material quality and production tolerances. Also,

other means of retaining the cans can be used, the type of blank 13 being just an example of a suitable means. For example with the 4 X 3 array disclosed in detail above, the pair of 2 X 3 blanks 13 could be replaced by a single 4 X 3 blank. The retention means and the side walls could even be provided by a single blank.